How Vladimir Putin became one of the most feared leaders in the world

Russian President Vladimir Putin has quickly become one of the most powerful and feared politicians in the world.

But he's had a long climb to the top - he spent years working in Russian intelligence and local politics before becoming the leader of the country.

And Putin could become even more relevant to the US in the coming years. President Donald Trump has often been criticized for cozying up to the leader of a country that is thought to work to undermine Western democracies.

Here's a look at how Putin rose to power and why some Americans fear him.Putin was born to a working-class family in Leningrad in 1952. His father is a decorated war veteran and factory worker. An only child, Putin grew up in a Soviet Union-style communal apartment with two other families, as was typical at the time.